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Takoma Park Council unanimously approves SHA priority letter and auditorium fee waiver
Summary
The Takoma Park City Council unanimously approved a Maryland State Highway Administration priority letter and a fee waiver for use of the auditorium after brief discussion; council asked staff to circulate formal waiver policy guidance for future consistency.
The Takoma Park City Council voted unanimously to approve a Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) priority letter and a separate resolution waiving fees for use of the Walker Memorial Auditorium.
Mayor Talisha Sayersi introduced the SHA priority-letter resolution and HCD Director McNally described two clarifying edits intended to add explicit language about intersection accessibility and bicycle safety for the Carroll and Flower Avenue location. Council member Landman moved the SHA resolution and a second was recorded; the motion carried with all members voting aye.
The council then considered a request to waive auditorium fees for a community film screening that would include a Q&A with representatives from Centro de Asencion Migrante Exodus. Council member Schlegel urged the council to clarify under what conditions waivers are offered, saying the city has granted similar waivers only twice this term and that a consistent policy would help avoid ad hoc decisions. Council member D'Bala asked staff to circulate the city's facility waiver policy so council members could review the criteria. Council member Lanvin (sic) raised concerns that waiver rules asking for participant addresses could deter some groups and suggested revising the language to reduce unnecessary collection of personal information.
After brief discussion and confirmation that the screening had been vetted through the city's arts and humanities screening process, Council member D'Bala moved the fee-waiver resolution and Council member Landman seconded. The council voted aye with no recorded oppositions or abstentions.
The council directed staff to circulate the existing waiver policy and to consider clarifying language on eligibility and privacy so the council could adopt a consistent approach going forward.
Outcome and next steps: Both resolutions were approved during the meeting. Staff will circulate the current facilities waiver policy for council review and may return with recommended policy language.
Quotes
"There should only be a couple of changes there to clarify that the intersection should include both accessibility and safety and look at the whole intersection," HCD Director McNally said while describing edits to the SHA priority letter.
"I just wanted to register that, during this term, I think we've waived auditorium fees twice," Council member Schlegel said, urging consistent waiver criteria.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution approving Maryland State Highway Administration priority letter: Moved by Council member Landman; seconded; outcome: approved (ayes: 7; no: 0; abstain: 0).
- Resolution approving auditorium fee waiver: Moved by Council member D'Bala; seconded by Council member Landman; outcome: approved (ayes: 7; no: 0; abstain: 0).
